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The Wizengamot is part of the ruling structure for the Wizarding world. It is first mentioned in passing on Albus Dumbledore's "Chocolate Frog" card, which tells us that he is Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Although it is never directly defined in the books, it is apparently a council of the most respected wizards, and is at least in part parallel to the Supreme Court in the Muggle world.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry actually has to stand before the Wizengamot in order to defend his use of magic against Dementors. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, seems to be in charge of the Wizengamot at this point, having possibly replaced Dumbledore, and seems to be trying to use the Wizengamot as a means of doing damage control.

Apart from the two versions of the Wizengamot described above, we can infer a third.

In the first version of the Wizengamot mentioned, during the Death Eater trials, the main function of the Wizengamot seemed to be trying and convicting Death Eaters. To that end, and reflecting the personality of the Chief Warlock, Bartemius Crouch Sr., it was a very harsh, almost militaristic organization.

When Harry is being tried, the Wizengamot seems to be in the process of turning into a mouthpiece for the Ministry. With Fudge as the Chief Warlock, its purpose has become very closely aligned with the needs of the Ministry, which like any political organization has a need for favorable publicity. To that end, the actions of the Wizengamot seem to be aimed at doing what will make the Ministry look good in the papers, rather than doing what will be the most fair; it is only the supreme debating skill of Albus Dumbledore that allows justice to be served in this particular case.

Finally, in between the two instances, there is mention that Albus Dumbledore is Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, an office that he held until more or less forced out of that position by the Ministry over the summer before Harry's fifth year at school (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, chapter 5); and he does appear to be reinstated in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His removal from the post does show that the Ministry has some indirect control over the makeup of the Wizengamot, although it seems that it is apparently supposed to be somewhat independent. One can assume, given Dumbledore's nature, that the Wizengamot under his control was concerned with truth rather than political expedience, and was a gentler and perhaps more noble court than in either of the instances we see directly.

Intermediate warning: Details follow which you may not wish to read at your current level.

Unlike American and British Muggle democracies, there is only partial separation of powers between the Wizengamot and the rest of the Ministry of Magic. The Wizengamot appears to function as a High or Supreme Court, Criminal Court and Parliamentary and Legislative Body. During Harry's "hearing" in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the trial is presided over by Cornelius Fudge who acts as both prosecutor and principal judge. However, Fudge is also the head of government and administrative executive for the Ministry, and should not be permitted that much control and power. The author may have created such a flawed system to emphasize the potential for corruption and authoritarianism in the Ministry of Magic.